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Cards may trade to bolster ailing rotation

Cards may trade to bolster ailing rotation

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LOS ANGELES -- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said Tuesday that the club could look for outside help to improve its starting rotation with right-handers Brad Penny and Kyle Lohse on the disabled list but that nothing is imminent.

"We have to get a feel for how long Penny is out before we have serious discussions but [Cardinals general manager John] Mozeliak stays on top of that," La Russa said. "I just don't think it's good for us to get caught up in it. We have to play with what we've got and let the guys up here know they can help us until the other guys get back."

The Cardinals have been leaning on right-handers Adam Ottavino, Blake Hawksworth and P.J. Walters to fill in the gaps in the rotation but the trio has combined for a 1-4 record and 6.71 ERA this season.

Walters was also optioned to Triple-A on Tuesday, leaving Ottavino and Hawskworth in the rotation for at least the next week.

"I'm confident that Moz and our scouts are staying abreast of our situation but honestly I don't think anything will show up before next week when we play Seattle," La Russa said. "You just can't give the club the vibe that things aren't fair right now. These games still count."